Antenatal care is the best way to be monitored during pregnancy and insures that if any issues with your own health or the baby’s health and development are spotted immediately and dealt with promptly.

In the UK it is quite standard to be offered scheduled antenatal appointments; it is likely that if expectant mums are in a lower risk category for pregnancy complications they often require less antenatal care than those in a high risk group.

It’s quite common, unless there are problems with the pregnancy or the expecting mum is seeking private antenatal care that she will attend the hospital during her scheduled check-ups. It is common for the local doctor, clinic or midwife to offer mums-to-be with regular antenatal care appointments and this is generally the UK standard for every normal pregnancy.

The first antenatal care appointment is called ‘booking-in’ and will be anywhere from 8 – 12 weeks into your pregnancy. Sometimes a community midwife will visit the patient for the appointment, otherwise the expectant mum is asked to attend their local hospital for the first appointment.

At the beginning of antenatal care there is plenty of information to be taken in. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and you will more than likely be asked about your family history, general health and current diet.

During the first antenatal care appointment it is often necessary for the patient to be weighed and also provide a blood sample, although sometimes this is not the case.

We at Innermost Secrets are a completely discreet and private team of medical professionals specialising in specific areas of